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    clayv
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    Due July 10th, WORKINGMAN’S DEAD: 50th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION will be available as a three-CD set and digital equivalents featuring the original album with newly remastered sound, plus an unreleased complete concert recorded on February 21, 1971 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. The show was mixed from the 16-track analog master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Bob Weir’s Marin County TRI Studios and mastered by Grammy® Award-winning engineer, David Glasser, along with restoration and speed correction by Plangent Processes. 2/21/71 delivers a plethora of songs from both Workingman’s Dead and the band’s follow-up album, American Beauty. Some highlights include Weir’s moving vocal take on “Me and Bobby McGee,” Pigpen’s whiskey-seasoned growl on “Easy Wind” and a stellar run through “Uncle John’s Band” to close out the show.

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  • Strider 808808
    Joined:
    Change is constant

    One of the few consistent laws of the Universe. I was the second wave of long hairs following in my brothers footsteps who was an almost original. Dennis Hopper was an amazing photographer who was given a camera in the early 60s from his actress girlfriend Brooke Hayward. Brooke is quoted as saying that Dennis was inseparable from that camera. Quite a few of Dennis’ photographs from the early 60s were of bikers in Southern California. It’s amazing to see men with long hair in 1962, not to mention how outlandish their clothes were. The Beatles started growing long hair in 63. I distinctly remember the local NYC TV news reports in February 1964. A young man who was part of the crowd in front of the Plaza Hotel when the Beatles arrived and was being interviewed. He was ecstatic about the arrival of the Beatles and had longish hair, told the newsman “I’m growing my hair long , this is my Beatles hair”cut”!” This was a wild cultural shift that was way beyond some fashion statement. When I first saw The Rolling Stones on the NYC tv show “The Steve Paul Scene” all the Stones had on Mod suits except for Mick who wore a plain gray sweatshirt. Fucking rebel. Big Daddy Roth who Stanley Miller (Mouse) was cut from the same cloth were the original T-shirt artists. They created t-shirts with images of hot rods with crazed looking drivers , human and otherwise. Soon after Rick Griffin started making surfing T-shirt’s with Murphy that also was the cover of the first issue of Surfer Magazine.
    Combine post World War 2 restlessness of veterans (B-17 bomber crews) who formed some of the original biker clubs , abstract expressionism in painting, the evolution of be-bop into free jazz, the rise of Chicago Blues (electrified) the late 50s early 60s folk revival, Rock and Roll, Beat literature , the use of psychedelics (Aldous Huxley, Gordon Wasson or mescaline and mushrooms respectively) brought into to the awareness of those who read Life Magazine and contemporary literature. Bring in Ken Kesey and Robert Hunter participating with the early 60s Menlo Park Veterans Hospital experiments with psychedelics. And five young Bay Area lads who lived, breathed, ate, drank from the deep well of music , with passion, nobody should be shocked or surprised that both here in the U.S. and England , that the two most materialistic nations in the world would become the birthplace of a “cultural revolution” that would rock so much of the world.
    That Workingmans Dead would make the music of the Grateful Dead ring true to a much larger audience from a far wider base than just the East Village, Sunset Strip, leave the Haight Ashbury , London (with roots in blue collar Liverpool) and gather momentum akin to a snowball rolling from the top of a mountain into a faster and larger freight train size avalanche , inevitable. Add in the Berkeley free speech movement, the civil rights movement that was in so many ways far greater than the hippie movement , might as well try and stop a freight train with a few branches across the tracks, (Caution, Do Not Stop On Tracks)
    So when something really good takes place in the hearts and minds of people , pay attention. If it moves you , do it. One could easily say Workingmans Dead was the first indication of just how popular the Grateful Dead would become. That the Grateful Dead would always be a hardly known band as it was right up to May/ June of 1970. Was not going to happen. Like trying to stop a flash flood with sand bags in the Gila River during a 3-4 day summer monsoon heavy rain. Ain’t a gonna happen. The audience didn’t completely change 50 years ago, it just got bigger .

  • daverock
    Joined:
    Workingmans-Touch

    Maybe Working Mans was the Touch if Grey of its day ! It used to make me wonder, when I first started buying albums by them, if the people who followed the Dead changed completely after that album, so different was it from its predecessors. It didn't seem so.

  • Strider 808808
    Joined:
    50 years ago

    Heard at the Fillmore East the night of September 17, 1970. “A whole lot of assholes have been showing up since the Dead released Workingmans Dead”.
    I’ll bet that individual didn’t stop attending Grateful Dead concerts.
    “It’s all relative.”

  • Strider 808808
    Joined:
    Contrabandista

    I need to wear about 15 brand new Dead T-shirts all at the same time while wearing five fake rolexes on each arm and fly to merry olde England. Set up a table in front of the Chelsea Drugstore and pay for my trip. Just kidding.

  • Happy Will
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    Beware of inflated value on customs declarations on WD 50th Merc

    I am in the UK and decided to order the 50th Ed Colour Vinyl and added a T-Shirt to the order. My bad fo thinking they would be sent together. So the T-shirt got sent first ( so a double whiny with Customs Charges of £8 ($10) per parcel) but with a quoted value is $50 which is double the cost, and hence a whopping £8.64VAT (bill plus customs) when it should have been about £4. Nice T shirt but pissed off.

  • dissident1980
    Joined:
    Early 1970 and 2nd Box

    1 2 70 Dark Star is so so good ... Dave's 30 and bonus is greatness ... I thought Dave said they did "the box" early this year due to other things happening (like WD and AB 50th's) implying no second box, but I could be totally wrong.

  • DeadVikes
    Joined:
    Box Set #2

    Fall 2020, I believe is what Dave said. I would expect an announcement around the first of August.

  • stillwaters
    Joined:
    Summer Box Set

    Pretty sure Dave said the reason the 1976 box set came out when it did was because there was a summer box coming.

  • simonrob
    Joined:
    More Inside Information...

    Always just a tease, never any real information.

  • dissident1980
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    More inside information

    A second box set? Great can't wait. 🙏❤💀🌹

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Due July 10th, WORKINGMAN’S DEAD: 50th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION will be available as a three-CD set and digital equivalents featuring the original album with newly remastered sound, plus an unreleased complete concert recorded on February 21, 1971 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. The show was mixed from the 16-track analog master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Bob Weir’s Marin County TRI Studios and mastered by Grammy® Award-winning engineer, David Glasser, along with restoration and speed correction by Plangent Processes. 2/21/71 delivers a plethora of songs from both Workingman’s Dead and the band’s follow-up album, American Beauty. Some highlights include Weir’s moving vocal take on “Me and Bobby McGee,” Pigpen’s whiskey-seasoned growl on “Easy Wind” and a stellar run through “Uncle John’s Band” to close out the show.

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8 years 11 months

In reply to by One Man

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In the time since I first posted, I listened again to both of Mickey's WD & AB, and spot compared with the regular released versions. Mickey's five channel mixes are striking, even where there are no other differences from the released versions. Example, the bass lines are far clearer, background and double tracked vocals shine. As might be expected, with five speakers, there is more space for each instrument. The only flaw I hear is some introduced reverb in Easy Wind that I think detracts. In some places background and harmony vocals are restored (e.g. New Speedway Boogie), and in all songs have a richer presentation, using the rear channels.

American Beauty is somewhat more radical than Workingman's Dead. Til the Morning Comes actually ends (instead of fading out), Brokedown Palace starts A capella, Friend of the Devil has some additional vocals. These are a different approach. But incredible use of five channels is what makes these mixes memorable as compared with the conventional releases.

Also, in 2002 Mickey released a DVD-audio, Best of Mickey Hart, also in five channel audio (actually 5.1) with selections including one from Diga, a couple each from Mystery Box, Planet Drum, a couple of other tracks, and one unreleased 1996 track from the 100th Olympiad. Also excellent.

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Time and Space as we all know as Drums and Space
Finally received Jai Alai Saturday, One More Grateful Saturday Night
1971 Port Chester . Forensic Dr that's for you
Later Folks

After all Lydon was pretty succinct with the Filthy Lucre tour lol. Sort of like FZ's WOIIFOM take off of the Pistols 2nd fav band after Pink Floyd the fabulous Beatles

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I totally agree with both of you, those 5.1 mixes are just fabulous. I remember when they first came out, wow, what a surprise that was, the best sounding American Beauty I had ever heard, also Working Man's was just unbelievable. I had these two lp's engraved in my heart and soul and the remixes really opened my eyes as to how good these two releases really were and are, as if we didn't all ready know that. Blair jackson wrote about these releases in his blog on this very site years ago and he agreed, what a revelation the new mixes are.

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In reply to by unkle sam

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DOC: those are some mighty big pics, lol. Some of my top wish list shows! You’d think some of those might be more likely Dave’s, but hey, who’d a thunk we’d ever get a complete PC 71 show as a “bonus” disc!! One way or another bring em Dave!

WM & AB on DVD Audio; never heard the surround mix. I have stereo Hi-res copies/files that sound amazing, but they definitely are mixed different than the original releases. Didn’t know Mickey did those? I should pick up Hard copies of those and especially that Mickey Disc up. Interesting, thanks for the info.

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I just saw the new sold out poster go for
$400 on eBay. Unreal.

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17 years
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Whoa!! WTF happened to Live Dead?? I know it was released prior to Working Man's Dead. Whaaa!😥😪

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I believe that they are only going to release the studio albums for the 50th anniversary releases.

For the AB Deluxe edition do we see another show from Port Chester 2/71? Since live albums aren't getting the deluxe treatment this would mean we won't see another anniversary release until 2023 for 'Wake Of The Flood'. Any thoughts/ideas?

Vguy72: that's just...cruel (lol).

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In reply to by DaveStrang

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Maybe they will save American Beauty until next year to pan things out a bit. Also - a bit of a left field idea - they might consider releasing deluxe editions of Garcia's First and Ace. Brilliant albums both, and chock full of future Dead standards.

Amazing coincidence...I have just checked out the board for pick of the day, and read that Bolo has referenced both these two solo albums in his last post there.

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Dave explains/justifies the inclusion of 2 21 71 w/ Workingman's 50th:

https://www.jambase.com/article/grateful-dead-workingmans-dead-50th-ann…

I still disagree. For an album recorded in Feb 70, released June 70, the show shoulda been a 70, not 71.

Have given 5 2 70, 1 2 70, 1 3 70 close listens past few days ... just incredible material ... really thought these WD and AB 50th would be similarly euphoric 1970 collections. The 1 2 70 Dark Star, the entire 1 3 70 bonus disc and the Other One in particular ... just otherworldly stuff ... and thanks to Dave for the beautiful Dave's 30 release. (Not tryna be overly critical ... I just love 1970 ✌ ... and I also listened to the Aoxomoxoa 50th bonus recently, perfect single-disc companion to that album.)

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In reply to by dissident1980

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I have to say I agree. From the rootsy charm of the acoustic sets - which were much more soulful than the ones from later years - to the Dark Stars - to some of the most powerful jams in their history during The Other One, Dancing in the Street, Viola Lee etc..You would have thought an anniversary release of WD would have been a perfect opportunity to celebrate this music. Maybe its been foregone as there is a big old box on the way. But I doubt it.

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What a cool post, thanks for posting it!

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If the guy had ever listened to the New Riders' "Lonesome L.A. Cowboy" (Lyrics by Peter Rowan) he would have realised that Barney's Beanery is indeed in L.A. and not in S.F. and could have saved himself both time and effort looking for it. Gotta know your songs!

This in no way diminishes his efforts. A thoroughly interesting and enlightening piece of research.

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In reply to by Strider 808808

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Berry interesting, nice work!
Gotta wonder why they didn’t try to ask anyone from the dead?

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4 years 6 months
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Workingman's Dead gets played every time I get into bbq and beer drinking. Along with the Best of Muddy Waters, Charlie Musslewhite's Louisiana Fog, and Anthem of the Sun. If I had to pick one record of all records ever done, it would be Workingman's Dead.

When watching episode 2 of "Long Strange Trip", Jerry described this album as an extension of American Beauty and that's definitely true. In both albums the dead get away from intense psychedelia, and lean into chill folk and country rock. I also think its cool that in both of these albums CSNY helped the Dead with their harmonizing skills, which is one of many examples of the Haight scene collaborating.

Here's the link to the episode if y'all wanna watch!: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0716M5Q4C/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

Damn you have great musical tastes. The only slight modification I would put is Charlie's Vanguard lps are tops of a wonderful life's work. What do you think of his experiments with Cuban and other fusion material he got into from the late 90's

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I've never heard Charlie play Cuban music, but I have heard that he did. My favorite two Musslewhite records are Louisiana Fog and Taking My Time, but I love all that music he put out on Vanguard. I've seen him play a lot of times. Charlie Musslewhite and Little Walter my favorite two harmonica players, but I love all of those blues harmonica players past and present.

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I'm looking to fill some gaps in my collection. I have a few of the official downloads/CDs that they released way back when but they are no longer available.

Anyone out there looking to trade some shows? I have a pretty deep collection of Dead/Phish/Panic/Mule/Cheese/Etc.

Google Drive works great!

DM me.

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14 years 5 months
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not much posting going on.

not that I need to spend time here, but it is a pleasant, occasional diversion.

5/5/81 post drums is worth your while.

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I love this album
It’s one of my favorite, go too albums released by the dead. This album changed me some how. But that’s a whole other story.
I love it!
Have a grateful day everyone.

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Just got relix mail about a 14 lp collection of original albums, 180 gm, beautiful colors, the book, the special gift, limited of course to 3,000.

Boy I flew there, 500 bucks! (hear that large sound of brakes squealing)

Can't a brother get a break.

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Went a looking for that Loser done by the Travelin' McCourys,,,, couldn't find in archive, but you can buy "the single" from amazon for 1.30.

At least a brother could afford that.

…….. for just the price of a cup of coffee a day, you could give a needy Deadhead...….

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11 years 7 months
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Found that Travllin' McCourys show (2015-05-23). It's on the archive. I was looking under Del McCourys Band, but no, it was under TM (like it should be).

It's a nice recording. I think there were 4 recordings of that show, I forget which I took, the best one obviously :-)

Time to put up on gdrive.

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In reply to by vykr

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Maybe they are saving that for the next reissue. Its only 5 years off the 55th anniversary.

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In reply to by daverock

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There are a few copies of this one and American beauty for sale on ebay.

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Back in 1984 I was at Red Rocks to see the Dead and I was given a Pigpen t-shirt from one of the Hog Farm associates. It was made by Stanley Mouse of his portrait of Pigpen from the back cover of Workingmans Dead. Printed on an off white 100% cotton beefy-t it was the bomb. I believe it had been produced by the Hog Farm and Mouse to be a fun-d raiser for SEVA. (Phun-raiser) I used to be a hell raiser , now I’m just a phun raiser. I bought this latest Workingmans Dead t-shirt. Way satisfied. Looking forward to t-shirt, jacket and should get the cap and go down to the Cenex Co-op filling station and shoot the bull with Goober. Andy Griffith was a comic genius .

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In reply to by daverock

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Perhaps they will come out next year? 51st anniversary and 5.1 mixes go together.

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Hats off to you, Okiedoke! Your persistence is greatly appreciated. That's a fun tale. I wonder if the Victorian house was moved somewhere or just plowed down. And wouldn't "Beanie's Place" make a good album title for someone?

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I recommend the jambase stream of 4/21/1972 Beat Club bremen. Right now they are doing playing in the band a second time. I guess the first time through they weren't as warmed up.

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In reply to by Strider 808808

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....great post my man. I have the “Pigpen T /Shirt you mentioned in your last post. Only difference is the color, the first edition of these pigpen T- shirt were/ are a beautiful hue’ of Pblue
In first edition was created & offered by the Dead’s long time friend & fan; By the artist, ‘Stanley Mouse Studios! The original first edition shirts are highly sought after or grateful to have in any greatful dead fan base! I have two versions, the original release by Stanley mouse and a 2nd shirt Of mouses’s released with a deep red/ maroon color palette!

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In reply to by Strider 808808

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....great post my man. I have the “Pigpen T /Shirt you mentioned in your last post. Only difference is the color, the first edition of these pigpen T- shirt were/ are a beautiful hue’ of Pblue
In first edition was created & offered by the Dead’s long time friend & fan; By the artist, ‘Stanley Mouse Studios! The original first edition shirts are highly sought after or grateful to have in any greatful dead fan base! I have two versions, the original release by Stanley mouse and a 2nd shirt Of mouses’s released with a deep red/ maroon color palette!

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In reply to by deadheadqueen

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Why is this Workingman's Dead 50th-anniversary collection being released on July 10th, 2020 while the original vinyl album release (WS-1869) was on June 14th, 1970?
I don't enough about the inner workings of Rhino Entertainment or Warner Music Group, but I would have put the release date of Workingman's Dead 50 sometime in June 2020.

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